Other views: Parks need public support

The Little Hoover Commission asked this provocative question in a report on California's effort to save its parks.

Of course, Hearst Castle belongs. For one thing, it fits today's much-touted "enterprise model." It draws 650,000 visitors a year and takes in $11 million annually. It costs $10 million a year to operate.

The extra revenue supports other units in the system, so its deferred maintenance costs are rising. But if Hearst Castle, and other park units, could keep some of their revenues, they could spread more of their infrastructure costs over many years. That is worth exploring.

Hearst Castle aside, the state parks department should — as Little Hoover recommends — evaluate all state parks for their significance.

Some parks were added to the system for political reasons and could be become local parks. A good example is Lighthouse Field State Beach in Santa Cruz. That 37 acres, next to the city park at Lighthouse Point, was saved from a hotel and convention center in the 1970s. It should be a city park.

The state parks department should explore alternative ways of running state park units of statewide significance. A good example is 2,400-acre Crystal Cove, which preserves one of the last remaining natural coastal open spaces in Southern California. Out of a battle against turning the space into a resort came the Crystal Cove Alliance, a nonprofit concessionaire providing affordable overnight rentals and food service. The contracts assure that 12 percent of gross revenues stays in the park for restoration and maintenance.

Not all parks can break even or make money. Like libraries and public schools, they require public support. We must recognize, too, that large swaths of the state are experiencing population growth but have few parks. Such as the San Joaquin Valley. We need to be acquiring lands today.